Nikolas and Kristopher
Nikolas and Kristopher. Here. Now. Sarah thought that she had gotten over her old life. But seeing them brought it all back. Apparently, seeing her was doing the same thing for the two of them. Kristopher more than his brother, was wearing a look of shock on his face. He stuttered into the recognition.
"Sar-" Sarah interrupted him before he could say her name.
"Selene, and you must be Nikolas. Or," she looked back at Jager, who was slightly shaking his head, "Kristopher? I've never met twins before. It's a shame I've never heard of you, from what Jager tells me, you're quite the tag team. That's what I get for spending all that time in know nothing London." She was careful to maintain her smooth British accent, which was threatening to waver at any moment. Kristopher was still gawking. With a side-glance at his twin, Nikolas stepped forward and took her hand. He didn't kiss it, though, like Jager, he squeezed in a friendly introduction. If he recognized her, he wasn't going to say anything.
"It's wonderful to meet you, Selene. My brother and I are always pleased with seeing a new face. Not that yours is too old, Jager." He turned to look at the vampire that had been watching the ordeal with a slight puzzled expression. It cleared, and he smiled, nodding.
"Always the flattering with you, Nikolas. I was just telling Selene about how you two are just returning to the great city of New York. She hasn't really gotten to see the sights; she just got here herself, a few years ago. Maybe you could tell them more about yourself, Selene. I have to keep circulating, hosting and all." He threw a sly wink at Sarah. She giggled seductively in return, but didn't find in the least find it funny. Alone. With Nikolas and Kristopher. She had to find a way to get out of it.
"Oh, won't you dance with me, Jager? I do love to dance." She pouted. But he didn't fall for it.
"Nikolas, why don't you dance with Selene here, I really am busy." He nodded towards the dance floor and then turned away. And then she was alone with the two of them. She reluctantly turned back around. Twin sets of black eyes looked out at her with slight disbelief. She could tell that neither of them had decided whether she was Selene or Sarah. She saw Nikolas' eyes go to where the Sarah he knew would have the scars he put there. Her back and wrist were perfectly clean. He started to frown. It was still awkwardly quiet when another eerie song started. Nikolas looked at his brother, who had recovered from his initial shock. Kristopher saw Nikolas' questioning look and nodded. He stepped forward, extending his elbow towards Sarah.
"My brother can't dance. But maybe I could be of service." Kristopher smiled at her, but it was not the smile she had come to remember him by. It was cold, and very dark. It mirrored the look his brother had given her in there last fight. Not necessarily hatred, but not trusting. He wasn't going to trust her until he found out who she was. All she wanted to do was run away, back to her cozy apartment. Away from the two of them. But she couldn't. It would alert too many people at this party that Selene was a fake. And she ran the risk of being followed. She smiled at him. No, Selene smiled at him. Sarah was gone. She couldn't have him finding her.
"That'd be great, luv. Thanks. We'll catch up with you later, then. Don't go too far." She smiled as Nikolas shook his head, expelling any thoughts of suspicion. The Sarah he knew would never be so bold. She took Kristopher's arm, and walked with him to the dance floor. He took her hand in his and placed his other on her hip. She put her left hand on his shoulder, and almost flinched with the contact. The last time she had put her hand on his shoulder, she had been kissing him. He couldn't know that, though. She pulled herself closer, and their faces were almost touching when they began swaying to the beat. She looked into his eyes, trying to gauge from them any recognition. She saw none. Either he really believed she was Selene, or he was doing the same thing he did when she told him she was Vida. Hiding his emotions from her. They stayed in that position, close, doing the same two step slow dance they had done at the Halloween dance for most of the song. He remained quiet, and she made no effort to speak either, worried of giving herself away. After what seemed like an eternity, the song ended, and was replaced by a livelier one. Sarah saw Jager whispering to one of the musicians, his eye's twinkling at the two of them. He nodded at her and made a gesture that said he wasn't ready yet and to dance some more. Perfect. She had to stay on his good side, though, so she grabbed Kristopher's hand before he had a chance to make it back off the dance floor.
"One more?" She asked him, putting on her best come and get me look. He smiled down at her and put his hands on her waist, right above where her back became covered again. His hands were warm against her very naked back, and she leaned in closer to him. She put both hands up by his neck and they danced. He waited a few moments, and then spun her around so she was dancing with her back to him. She laughed and resumed stepping to the rhythm, her hips swaying against his to the beat. She felt his head lower to her neck, and felt him lay a soft, playful kiss on her neck. She then felt herself getting very warm as she reached behind her to pull him closer. Instead of continuing to kiss her neck, he grabbed one of her outstretched hands and spun her back around. She saw the way he was looking at her and she faltered. He looked pleased, and knowing. One hand went to her lower back and pulled her close to him, so their bodies were touching. He leaned down and whispered in her ear, so only she could here him.
"You know, I almost believed you. The accent threw me, it's very good. And you got Nikolas with the disappearing scars. But you know what gave you away?" He took her right hand in his and brought it up between them.
"A single teardrop, when did it fall? Maybe this goddess is mortal, after all." He was looking down at the scar she had given herself when she punched through a window after her dad was killed. She couldn't bring herself to erase it along with all of her other scars. She smiled up at him, as if to say, 'You've one.' He nodded. The song ended and Jager, who had finally gotten up to the dais to make his speech, waved everyone from the dance floor. Sarah and Kristopher made their way back to Nikolas, but he didn't make any move to tell his brother whom she really was. He was allowing her that. For now.
"Gather round, gather round." Jager motioned for everyone to move on to the dance floor. "It's time to introduce to you this evenings golden boys, two very good friends of mine. They've been traveling around the states for the past twenty years and have settled here in New York. I thought I'd throw them a welcome to the neighborhood party, because, can I just say what a terrific neighborhood it is?" There was an echo of applause throughout the ballroom. He waited for it to subside, then continued. "Nikolas and Kristopher Ravena are both my cherished guests, and I hope you'll give them a warm welcome." He nodded at the applause that followed and motioned for Nikolas and Kristopher to come up on to the dais. Sarah stepped out of Kristopher's reach, so he could do nothing but throw a glance over his shoulder at her. He didn't risk making a scene while all eyes were on him. She smiled so as not to alert the rest of the guests that something is wrong. Nikolas and Kristopher both waved and nodded at the crowd and then took turns shaking Jager's hand. The applause ceased, and Nikolas took the lead to address the crowd.
"And what a good welcome it is! I know my brother agrees with me when I say that there truly is no other place like New York, New York. I just-" he was cut off by a sharp crack as the entrance door was broken open. Seeing as the entrance hall was about two stories up from the dance floor, no one could see what had broken in. There was a familiar smell in the air that Sarah couldn't place. It was when the vampire hunter that had made his way in spoke that she recognized it.
"I'm looking for the vampire Sarah Vida. I have no want to fight any others, so everyone else can walk free. My concern is with her, and her only." He stepped into the room, dressed in a pair of jeans and a white tee shirt. Sarah could see three knives on him in plain sight, but new there were at least four more hidden. He was bold, coming in here by himself. Too bold.
"Hunter, you've got balls. Coming into a party with at least 200 strong vampires all by your lonesome." It was Jaguar that spoke, a stringy brunette hanging on his arm.
"Sarah Vida is the only one I want." He repeated, scanning the floor from his point on the balcony. Sarah had backed into the shadows of one of the windows, almost completely covered by the thick folds of black curtain. She didn't dare look up to the dais and meet Kristopher or Nikolas' eyes.
"Sarah Vida? Of the Vida line? That hunter that Kristopher and Nikolas killed?" Jager looked over at the twins questioningly. Sarah looked at their faces then. They had told people they killed her?
"I don't know what he's talking about. Sarah Vida has been dead for thirty years." Nikolas was the one to speak first. He wore the perfect look of confusion on his face. Sarah almost believed he had killed her. In fact, he almost did. The hunter called attention back to himself by speaking.
"I believe you are the one who is mistaken. I spoke to the vampire two days ago, and I have reason to believe she attended this bash. Just hand her over, and I won't attack." He stepped into the room a little more. He really was very handsome. His golden hair and warm tan stood out like a splash of color on a gray backdrop. Pity, he would be killed before he took another step. He may be strong, but not strong enough to take on every vampire in the room.
"I hate to break it to you, hunter, but you are no match for us all." A vampire from near the staircase said. Sarah couldn't remember her name.
"Oh don't worry about me. I've got a little help." He turned to look behind him and nodded. About seventy hunters filed in behind him. Some had to go onto the stairs there were so many of them. Every vampire stepped back with the sudden burst of power. Not one of them sensed the other hunters. Someone very powerful cloaked their power. Sarah saw several of the vampires get into a fighting stance. They weren't taking the hunter as a joke anymore.
"As I said, just hand Sarah Vida over, and I'll leave and take my friends with me.' He smiled. It made Sarah's skin crawl. She had to stop this; she couldn't risk him describing her.
'Hunter,' Sarah saw his face change to slight surprise at the voice in his head. He began scanning the crowd furiously for the voice. 'That's enough. We'll speak, but not here. Meet me at Los Noches. Leave your friends.' She watched for a sign of reaction. He surprised her by responding in her head.
'How do I know you won't bring friends of your own? How do I know you'll even show?' She smiled. He really didn't know her.
'Just be there. Half an hour.' She was about to transport herself to her apartment before she stopped.
'Goodbye Kristopher.' Sarah saw his eyes look to meet hers by the window, but all they caught was curtain. She had already gone.